Former Official Sues Easter Seal Chapter

A former finance director at the Colorado Easter Seal Society has sued the charity, saying he was forced out of his job after disclosing information about sexual harassment at the organization.

A lawyer for the charity says the allegations are “ridiculous.”

Larry Norby, the former director, filed his suit in U.S. District Court in Denver. He is demanding that Easter Seal compensate him for loss of pay, emotional trauma, lawyers’ fees, and other expenses.

Mr. Norby, who resigned in June, contends that remaining in his job became intolerable after he told the chairman of the chapter’s board that the charity was at risk of being sued by three female employees for sexual harassment. Mr. Norby said the employees had complained to him about being sexually harassed and physically abused on the job.

After his disclosure, Mr. Norby says, the chapter’s leaders retaliated against his outspokenness by withholding important financial projections from him and by hiring a vice-president for finance who was assuming most of Mr. Norby’s responsibilities.

David Kerber, a lawyer for Colorado Easter Seal Society, said the organization “never got a charge from any employee about sexual harassment.” He added: “There is nothing to his allegations that financial information was being withheld. Finances are not secret stuff there.”